By Lula Anderson
Sorry it's been forever since I've written. I had plans to write Tuesday until my editor said his deadline changed and I really didn't have time to get it together before it. My new plan is to write on Sunday to make sure I meet the deadline, but we all know what happens to well laid plans. What a week we had weather-wise. Cold, snow, rain, sleet, wind. It felt like it was winter. Some many of my friends haven't been outside in so long. How depressing. Judy is still waiting for her chammies to be relined, so she has no heat except for portable oil filled heaters. Her son finally got his oil burner hooked up to a smart thermostat, so at least there's heat in his part of the house.
On Saturday, WAJPL held their 2nd annual Holiday Bazaar. The food booth and bake sale did very well, and the table space was sold out, so all was good for the Seniors. As we have said, the mission of the club is to keep our senior citizens active. With our members on fixed incomes, we try to subsidize our activities and trips to keep the costs down and affordable to all of our members. We hold craft classes during the summer which are free, with a minimal cost for extra supplies. Our meetings and picnic have pot luck refreshments, which always results in plenty of food for all, and in a lot of cases, enough to take home for supper. The towns of Windham, Ashland, Jewett, Prattsville and Lexington sponsor us, but with increasing costs, the money doesn't go as far as it used to, so our fundraisers do a lot to help all. Thank you for supporting us. There will be no meetings in December and only one in January, February and March. Meeting dates will be posted.
Our big trip this year will be to the Virginia International Tattoo and Parade of Nations for 4 days and 3 nights from April 16-19. The cost is $759/person double occupancy with the balance due by February 20th. Call MaryLouise at 518-622-3397 for complete details and reservation. People who have attended this event say it's an occasion not to be missed. Package includes bus trip, lodging, breakfast, 3 full course dinners including The Spirit of Norfolk Dinner Cruise, tases and meal gratuities.
On June 4, we will be attending "Moulin Rouge" the musical at Proctors. August 4 is Elton John Tribute at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, MA.
The Mountain Tip Golden Agers (the Hunter/Tannersville group) are starting to schedule their summer trips. June 12 thru the 15 is a tour of Washington, DC. Aug 5th Kenny Rogers Tribute at the Log Cabin and in Early October a trip to Lancaster, PA to see JOSEPH at Sight and Sound, and BEAUTIFUL-The Carole King musical in Lancaster, PA. call Patty 518-821-8670 for additional information
December 6th is gearing up to be a very busy day. WAJPL will be sponsoring a Blood Drive at our Senior Center/ Ambulance Hall from 9 - 1. For an appointment please visit redcrossblood.org using sponsor code WindhamAmbulance or call 1-800-733=2767. We have 3 signed up already, and our goal is 20. Please help out for the Holiday season.
Also on December 6th, the Windham Hensonville UMC will be holding their annual Christmas Tea and Craft Fair from 10-4. Join them for tea, home-baked goods and fellowship. Visit their Gift Land for holiday shopping: beautiful gift baskets, Holiday crafts, faux florals and more. Bring the children as Santa arrives at 2.
AS I REMEMBER IT
On Saturday, Albin was late coming to the Holiday Sale as he was assisting his grandson, Chase, who had just bagged his buck. Yes, Saturday was opening day for hunting season which used to mean so much more in the not-so-distant past. Coming down Jewett Mountain, there were 3 cars parked at the old quarry entrance. Such a difference from years ago when there was no place to park on the side of the road there.
As Big Game season traditionally opened on a Monday, we saw the hotels, boarding houses and restaurants packed starting Friday night. Men would be walking around wearing their red plaid hunting suits, with their tags pinned to their back. Saturday and Sunday would be the days when targets would be set up so the hunters could sight in their rifles. Ammo wasn't as costly then, so shooting would last all day. The younger boys, from 14 to 16, would join in, but until you turned 16, you could only get a small game license. Oh, but what boy ( and some girls), wouldn't dream of that day when they could join in on the BIG DAY. Sunday night, right after supper, the men would lay out their clothes for the next day, get their coats and boots ready by the front door, and go to bed because they had to be up at 4am to go into the woods. The women would get up and make a hearty breakfast and pack box lunches for the men. 7 AM would be announced by at least one gunshot. We women, back at the house would wonder who shot, did they get it? All day long we would listen to the pop-pop of gunshots echoing throughout the mountains. We'd wait and watch to see who came out of the woods first, and if they were dragging anything. Rose's mother lived on the Ashland/Prattsville line, and their land crossed the creek and went up the mountain, which was old pastureland, and devoid of trees. The women would sit and watch the men on the left walking through the woods while the deer were all on the other side of the clearing. Such cagey animals.
Who remembers Nelson Ohl's Garage where there were always bucks hanging. At the end of the day, it was always worth the trip to town to count the deer hanging.
After supper, everyone would jump into the car and go out "spotting deer". Shining a strong light in the fields to see where the deer were and how many bucks, to set up where the hunting would be the next day.
So far this year, I've heard one shot. Not the barrage of old. Very few goes hunting anymore. Very few admit they like the taste of venison. Deer management permits (what we all called Doe Permits) are hard to come by. You are still charged the fee, whether you get one or not. Remember Party Permits - when a group of hunters registered together and one got an additional doe permit? Now we just watch the deer overpopulate.
My advice to you in the next few weeks: After 3 PM, be very vigilant while driving. The deer are running out of the woods and directly towards your car.
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